The Billionaire's Fiancée Burned a Silent Little Girl's Hair—Then the Nanny Did the One Thing No One Expected

The drive to the university took three hours, winding through the dense, green hills of the state capital’s outskirts. Grant drove. He had insisted on doing it himself, dismissing the security detail and the private driver. He wanted this to be a normal family milestone, even though their family had been forged in anything but normalcy. Emma sat in the passenger seat, reading through a stack of legal briefs for the advocacy center. Lily sat in the back, her headphones resting around her neck, watching the trees blur past the tinted windows.

"Did you review the campus security protocols?" Grant asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Twice," Lily answered. "I know where the emergency call boxes are. I have the campus police number programmed, and the private security firm is on standby, though I told them to stay off the actual grounds unless requested."

"They will respect that perimeter," Grant confirmed.

"I don't want to be the girl with bodyguards," Lily said quietly.

"You won't be," Emma said, turning around to look at her. "You are just a student going to study psychology. The legislation made the news, but college students are self-absorbed. Most of them won't make the connection immediately."

"And if they do?" Grant asked, testing her.

"If they do, I will tell them that policy is public, but my personal life is private," Lily recited smoothly.

When they arrived at the sprawling, ivy-covered campus, the energy was chaotic. Students were dragging massive laundry bins filled with clothes and electronics. Lily stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath of the crisp autumn air. For a fleeting second, the noise was overwhelming.